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Wednesday, April 7, 2021 | Echo Journal
pineandlakes.com
Spring sports return after 2020 cancellation By Dan Determan Staff Writer
2019-20 school year. It was an unprecedented decision. The entire world Spring is finally in the air. was wrapped in uncertainty For the first time in almost two years, the Patriots and at the time, so it was perhaps understandable, but to have Tigers are set to take to the baseball, softball, track and diamond, the track and the field, golf and trap shooting links. simply not take place one Last April - when the spring is a truly unique situCOVID-19 pandemic first ation - one we will likely, and began to take hold in the state hopefully, never see again. and in the lakes area, closing And so, thoughts of the schools and businesses - the spring of 2020 are filled Minnesota State High School with what-ifs. Would Pine League announced that all River-Backus’s Brady Raph activities and athletics that have capped his stellar high occur during the spring sea- school golf career with a state son would be canceled for the championship? How would a
respectable Patriot boys golf team have finished? What might we have seen from the Patriot track and field teams after a very successful 2019 season? We will never know. It’s like being enthralled in a good book, only to get to the end and find the last page has been torn out. Of course, one has to feel for the class of 2020 - a group of passionate athletes who lost their senior seasons because of circumstances far beyond their control - but I think it is important to remember that the spring of 2020 affected all
athletes. Yes, the senior class was the one to end on a sour note, but the underclassmen also lost an entire season of a sport they love and missed out on some valuable experiences and positive memories in the process. Competitively, there may be some notable ramifications as well. I would argue that varsity experience is one of the most valuable things a team can have. Since this year’s seniors were sophomores the last time Pequot Lakes and PR-B fielded teams, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to
think varsity experience may be a hard commodity to come by this spring. Regardless, athletes, coaches and fans can all take solace in the simple fact that spring sports are actually happening this year. After the cancellation of sports last spring, the uncertainty of sports in the fall and the delayed start to the winter seasons, I think it is safe to say nothing in high school sports is being taken for granted. So join me in wishing the Tigers and Patriots a spring free of injuries and inclement weather, and full of success.
TRACK AND FIELD
Isabel Larson (left) and Ella Kratochvil round the final corner during the Patriot track and field team’s practice on Thursday, April 1.
Dan Determan / Echo Journal
PATRIOTS RETURN KEY GROUP BOYS’ TRACK
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he Pequot Lakes boys’ track and field team has a nice mix of 15 letterwinners, plus a group of sophomores and freshmen who are making their varsity debuts this year since last spring was canceled due to COVID-19. “We graduated a group of seniors last year, but we have two new grades of athletes stepping in,” said Pequot Lakes boys’ coach Dave Guenther. “So it will be exciting to
work with new people.” Letterwinners include: Jesse Clausen, Caleb Davis, Bryce Fabian, Lucas Ganley, Eli Hall, Tyler Hidde, Caleb Hill, Logan Hill, Ethan Johnson, Steve Maschoff, Charles Schiessl, Garrett Griffin, Cruz Megazzini, Vini Sposito and Isaak Geroy. Others who could contribute are Levi Barnes, Shane Crowley, Paxton Goddard, Cullen Keifer, Kalan Larson, Garrett Wichner, Wolfgang Yetzer, Jaiden Biley, Alex Stahnke and
Alex Kriesel. Guenther said that the Patriots expect to have a smaller roster this spring. “We have a lot of track veterans that are not returning,” Guenther said. “I feel bad for them, but I’m here to spend time with the kids who really want to be here.” The coach added that his athletes are excited to be back after missing the 2020 season. “I feel that after you have something taken away from you, and
then you get it back, you learn to appreciate what you had even more,” Guenther said. “That sums it up best for being able to have a track season this year.” The Patriots are scheduled to open the season by hosting Nevis, Staples-Motley and Walker-HackensackAkeley on Friday, April 16. The True Team Section meet is Tuesday, May 4, at a location to be determined. The Mid-State Conference boys’ meet will be Tuesday, May 11, at
Detroit Lakes while the Subsection 6A meet is Thursday, May 20, at Pequot Lakes. Assistant coaches are Brian Homan, Bud Bjornarra, Kathy Allen, Pat Pfeiffer, Jana Lueck, Chip Taylor and Jeremiah Duvall.
GIRLS’ TRACK
The Pequot Lakes Patriots girls’ track and field team returns 15 athletes who lettered in 2019, but were forced to sit out last year when the MSHSL spring sports season was canceled due
to COVID-19. Those letterwinners are Lydia Hubbard, Carly Chaney, Megan Buffington, Calia Chaney, Lilix Gustafson, Emma Flaws, Joselyn Rinio, Riya Johnston, Sheena James, Brittany Joyce, Allison Gladen, Julia Keiffer, Sonja Palmer, Kelsey Polchow and Sydnie Wgeishofski. “After not having a competitive season last year, the girls’ team returns a core group led by seniors Lydia
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